CHAPTER 109: CH 109: PIN THE BLAME - PART 1

When Kana and Lysera finally reached home, they were greeted by the sight of Irielle sitting cross-legged on the couch, cheeks puffed out like a sulking child.

"There you two are. Always running off and leaving me behind. Do you even remember I exist?"

She huffed, arms folded.

Kana froze, instantly feeling guilty, while Lysera merely sighed and walked past her, unbothered.

"We didn’t leave you behind. You were still asleep when we left."

Lysera replied flatly, setting down the small bag she carried.

"That’s an excuse."

Irielle shot back, narrowing her eyes.

Kana panicked for a second, glancing between them, unsure if she should intervene. But Lysera leaned against the wall and gave Irielle a calm, unreadable smile — the kind that usually meant trouble.

"Fine. Next time, we’ll let Kana wake you up."

Lysera said smoothly.

Irielle blinked, stunned for a moment, then puffed out her cheeks again before finally giving up.

"...Tch. You always find a way to twist things."

Without warning, she reached out, grabbed Kana by the waist, and pulled her down into her lap. Kana let out a startled yelp, arms flailing as she tried to wriggle free, but Irielle’s hold was firm.

"W-Wait, Irielle! Let me go! This feels weird!"

Kana protested, cheeks heating up.

"Mm, no. You ran off and left me. You have to make up for it."

Irielle murmured, resting her chin on Kana’s shoulder.

Before Kana could argue again, Irielle nuzzled her nose against the side of Kana’s neck, causing her to shiver and squirm harder.

"Stop! That— It tickles!"

Kana complained, but Irielle just laughed softly, refusing to let go.

Lysera watched from the corner of her eye, shaking her head slightly as she set some documents on the table.

"If you’re done clinging to Kana, we need to talk about something."

She said evenly.

That immediately grabbed Irielle’s attention.

"What now?"

Lysera’s expression grew serious as she slid the papers across the table.

"The investigation into High Priest Rudy."

The air in the room shifted. Even Irielle stopped playing around and looked up.

Lysera leaned back in her chair, resting an elbow on the armrest.

"The deeper we dig, the more... complicated it becomes. He had connections to someone outside the temple, but every time we get close to uncovering who, the trail disappears."

Irielle frowned, brows knitting together.

"That sounds deliberate. Whoever’s behind Rudy isn’t just covering tracks — they’re watching us."

Lysera nodded.

"Exactly. Which means stopping now isn’t an option."

Irielle’s grip on Kana unconsciously tightened, her usual playful demeanor replaced by quiet unease.

"...Lysera, maybe we shouldn’t push this further. This isn’t a game. The people behind Rudy... they’re dangerous."

Kana blinked, glancing between the two, sensing the weight in their words.

But Lysera shook her head slowly.

"It’s already too late to turn back. If we back off now, it won’t change anything. Whoever’s pulling the strings won’t just... let us walk away."

Irielle stared at her for a long moment before sighing deeply, finally leaning her forehead against Kana’s shoulder.

"Fine. Do what you want... but keep Kana out of this. No matter what."

Lysera’s gaze softened slightly.

"I promise."

Kana wanted to ask more, but she could feel the tension pressing down on the room. Instead, she stayed quiet, letting Irielle hold her close.

That night, just as everyone was starting to drift off, a sudden commotion erupted in the temple halls.

Shouts echoed from the central wing, where High Priestess Lumine’s quarters were located. Guards rushed past in a frenzy, their boots thundering against the polished floors.

Evaya sat up in bed, startled.

"What’s happening?"

High Priestess Jenna was already at the window, watching the movement outside.

"...Something serious."

She murmured.

Word spread quickly: High Priestess Lumine’s personal attendant had collapsed. He was barely clinging to life, his breathing shallow, skin cold and pale.

The healers confirmed it almost immediately. He’d been poisoned.

But not through food or drink — the poison had seeped in through direct contact. The source? A rare, highly toxic plant.

Kana’s heart skipped a beat as the whispers continued, each one spreading like wildfire through the temple’s corridors.

By morning, the guards had traced the plant back to its origin.

High Priestess Lumine had purchased it herself.

The problem was... no one dared accuse her directly. As one of the highest authorities in the temple, Lumine’s influence was untouchable.

Charging her would cause chaos, and the temple couldn’t risk its reputation collapsing.

So, they looked for someone else to blame.

Someone expendable.

By midday, the investigation led them straight to the small shop where Lumine had bought the plant. Penelope, the shop’s owner, wasn’t there at the time.

The one who handled the sale... was Kana.

In the dimly lit corridor of the temple’s lower halls, a group of guards huddled together, voices hushed despite the distance from prying ears.

The atmosphere was tense — none of them wanted to be the first to speak, but eventually, one guard broke the silence.

"Are we... really doing this?"

He whispered, shifting uncomfortably as he glanced at the report in his hand.

"The girl who sold the plant... we don’t even know if she realized it was poisonous. Shouldn’t this fall on the High Priestess’s attendant? He’s the one who mishandled it."

Another guard frowned deeply.

"Exactly. From what we’ve gathered, it looks more like carelessness on his part than anything else. That girl — Kana, wasn’t it? — she’s probably just a bystander who got dragged into this."

There were a few reluctant nods among them, but their expressions remained grim.

Before anyone could say more, the sharp voice of their chief cut through the corridor.

"Enough. I understand your concerns, but this is bigger than one outsider girl."

He stepped forward, his presence heavy, arms crossed behind his back. His gaze swept over each of them, cold and unyielding.

"The High Priestess cannot be questioned. Her status is untouchable, and if we accuse anyone connected to her directly, we risk damaging the temple’s reputation."

One of the younger guards clenched his fists but stayed silent as the chief continued.

"Pinning the blame on an outsider is better than letting the temple’s own staff take the fall. We protect our own first. That is our duty."

He said firmly,

The group exchanged uneasy looks, but none dared argue further. The decision had been made — and Kana’s name was now on their report.